My heart is full!

Just have to write about the Christmas party I attended tonight. I am the clerk for Company D of the Alabama State Defense Force (ASDF) and we had our company Christmas party tonight - with a buffet style Christmas dinner with all the fixings!

After partaking of the wonderful food, our out-going Top Sergeant handed over his position to our new acting Top Sergeant - a female. I might add right here that all the Senior NCO's of our company are female (of which I am proud to be one)! Hooah!

The commander presented the out-going Top Sergeant with a beautiful placque of appreciation, which was highlighted with a photograph of the entire company (43 strong!). He was touched and not many dry eyes then!

Then, surprise of surprises, I was called forward and directed to a chair which was laughingly referred to as the "hot seat." I was completely taken aback to be called forward, with no knowledge of what I had done or hadn't done to be the center of attention all of a sudden. The commander then called the XO and the new Top Sergeant forward and I thought I had done something wrong or was going to be "roasted." Lo and behold, I was presented with an American Flag, shell casings shined to a magnificent brilliance, and a case for the flag on behalf of my deceased husband. You see, I never received a flag when Kermit died (he was retired/disabled from the U. S. Army, with combat service in Viet Nam) and I recall telling a certain person about it. She, the now Top Sergeant, swore the entire company to secrecy and set about seeing to it that I received a flag. Never have I been so touched by anything as I was when that flag was handed to me. Needless to say, I blubbered like a baby. And, to be honest, I don't believe there were many of those present (32 of us) that weren't wiping away a tear or two.

Then, the commander was called forward to sit in the "hot seat." The senior staff presented him with a beautiful briefcase, with a brass tag on which was etched his name, rank, and company name. He was as surprised with his gift as I was with mine - once again tears ran freely.

We played "dirty Santa" with the gifts after that - and laughter was just what this old gal needed! Hilarity reigned supreme when one particular gal had everything she selected taken away from her, as well as the commander. I came away with a MagLite, something I have wanted for a long time. I took it away from the commander - nervy of me, right? NOT!

It was an absolutely wonderful evening, spent with people I know care about me a great deal. Nothing can be any better than that!

Mickey Finn has spouted off.

Freezing Fog?

Awoke this morning to a world completely encased in a heavy blanket of fog, which was freezing onto the ground practically before my eyes. My front porch was a miniature skating rink! Poor Miss Freckles, as she attempted to make a hasty exit from the house to her "special" place in the yard, very nearly splatted herself into the pecan tree in the front yard because she just couldn't get a good foot hold on ANYTHING!

I heard a freight train tooting its mournful song from almost 13 miles away, that's how eerily quiet it was at 6:00 this morning. I don't hear the trains as they swoosh through town very often, but this morning I had to look carefully to make sure it wasn't coming down my road! There wasn't a breath of air moving and I could very nearly hear the fog as it crashed onto the ground and froze.

As I headed for work this morning, I noticed fishermen were putting their boats into the backwater. Through a break in the fog, I could see the disjointed head and shoulders of a man who apparently was standing in his boat. Kinda sorta gave me the shivers and the hair on the back of my head stood straight out at the apparition! Surreal doesn't explain how it looked and felt!

I didn't stay at work long - heater in the office quit and it became much too cold to continue working. Now, for those of you in really cold climes, 28 degrees probably doesn't seem cold to you. But to those of us who often find ourselves complaining about 100 degree weather being a tad on the warm side, 28 degrees is taxing to our thin blood!

After the fog lifted, the sky was so blue it actually hurt to look at it. Bright sunshine with no warmth to it tempted me to go outside to search for pecans, but believe me when I say it wasn't but a short time in that still, cold, crisp air before I was heading for a warm place to recover from the full body shivers from which I found myself suffering! Never had had any Long Johns, but am seriously contemplating purchasing a set for this winter! Great grimy gobs of greasy, gritty, gummy, goofy, gopher guts - I'm a wus!

Franklin, my resident squirrel, is minus most of his tail tonight! He was not quite quick enough to evade Miss Freckles' snapping teeth. She, Miss Freckles got a mouth full of squirrel tail fur, and Franklin escaped to the top of the oak tree in a snit because of his naked tail! Miss Freckles had a rather bemused expression on her face when she realized all she had was fur and no squirrel! It was a very funny episode - a comedy of errors almost!

Mickey Finn has spouted off!

To those who are offended - Phhfft!

I've about had it. And, I hope there are others out there who feel the same way. Telling me that saying "Merry Christmas" is wrong is like telling me not to say "Hello" when I answer my telephone!

Who are they and what is the deal with people who say they are offended by a sign stating Merry Christmas or hearing someone wish Merry Christmas to others? What planet are they from, will someone please tell me? I have Jewish friends who wish me Merry Christmas and I wish them Happy Channakuh (pardon the spelling, please). I have a couple of Muslim friends who don't hesitate to tell me Merry Christmas - and I even know some folks who claim to be atheists who have never backed down from wishing me and others a Merry Christmas.

Why should I refrain from wishing friends and family Merry Christmas because some jerk claims to be offended by it? Hmm, seems that something is badly akimbo here! This old gal isn't going to stop saying Merry Christmas, I definitely won't stop praying, and I will continue to include the words "Under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance! Are you offended? If so, I feel sorry for you because you are the one with a problem, not me!

Micky Finn has spouted off!

Can't be nearly Christmas already!

Thanksgiving has come and gone - where the heck did October go, would someone please tell me?! For Pete's sake, it was day before yesterday when we all were celebrating the 4th of July! Now it's the Christmas season, with winter promising lots of cold and yucky (a technical term) weather for the next few months, creeping up at a fast gallop! Gosh golly gee, what have I done with this entire year?

Decided to stay on with my part-time job. Had a long, long, long talk with the boss man - waited until he had taken his proper medicine at the proper time before I did it, though! My Momma didn't raise any fools - but then, she didn't have no kids what lived, neither! LOL

He will stay out of my way when I am working - will not even make an appearance at the office if he knows I am there. He only gets this one chance, you understand! At my age, I certainly don't intend to take filthy language and obscene gestures while at work - or any place else, either! He was kind enough, though, to say a nice "Thank You" for the $30,000.00 I rescued for him and his company for the month of October!

It's cold in the Heart of Dixie! Had to leave water dripping rather rapidly last night to prevent pipes from freezing - have to do the same tonight, it appears from the weather forecast. Might even have some icing and possible snow showers on Thursday. I'd love to see a couple of feet of snow during the winter - the entire state would be shut down if that were to happen. I remember in March of 1993 we got a HUGE snowstorm (for this part of the country, anyway) and I was snowed in here at my home for six days. Loved every minute of it, but locals were not very happy with the situation at all. There's something very special about the quietness that snow on the ground brings to the country side. And, it's fun to see all the tracks of the "critters" who seem to like to roam around my property.

Pecan trees are producing quite a nice crop this year - wish I could stay ahead of the squirrels, crows, racoons, possums, turkeys, and deer that are thoroughly enjoying the harvest, though! They've gotta eat, too, and it's delightful to watch out the front window as they munch and crunch away! Besides, I've got all I will want to use and have given away many bags full - let the critters enjoy, is what I say!

Going to a Christmas party on Saturday evening. It's the ASDF Company D Christmas party, which should be lots of fun. We are going to do the "dirty Santa" with the present exchange, which usually is good for lots of laughs! Looking forward to the night out.

Can't believe how long it's been since I've posted. Haven't really had anything worthwhile about which to write, and when I've thought of something I thought might be of interest, it's usually so late at night that the eyeballs won't cooperate by staying open! Aw shucks, I might just as well admit to being an old hag and get it over with!

Micky Finn has spouted off!